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[ali-s]

How can I tell if gooseberries are ripe enough to pick?

 

I tried one at the weekend and it was sour so I wasn't sure if I should harvest them or not I'm not sure of the variety as it was here when we moved. The bush looks ancient and I have never pruned it. I have noticed that something has started to strip the leaves so I would like to harvest the fruit sooner rather than later.

 

Thank you.

[chickencam]

It depends if it a dessert or cooking variety, the dessert ones ripen to soft redish sweetish fruits, the others are better harvested whilst still firm and then made into what ever you fancy.

[ali-s]

Thanks for the reply.

 

They are a greeny, yellow colour. I think I will pick some and turn them into jam within the next couple of days. OH can be the guinea pig and try the finished product.

[Christian]

Sounds like they might be a cooking variety.

 

I made jam with mine yesterday, first time and they go a lovely red when cooked.

[ali-s]

Idecided to leave the fruit on the bush for another week or so after looking at a website for a local PYO fruit farm. Their Gooseberries won't be ready for picking until the last week of June/ first week of July, so I will start to harvest at the same time. The growing season is later up here by at least a month so I never trust advice given out in gardening books and magazines

[fluffy chick]

We picked ours a couple of weeks ago, they were green and sour but made lovely jam and crumble! Apparently you need to pick the green ones to encourage red ones to grow.